Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Northwest Arkansas Labor Council has endorsed the following
candidates for the May 22 primary, judicial and ballot issue elections.
After reviewing candidate questionnaires and discussion at the March
meeting, we believe that these candidates are highly qualified and share
many of our concerns for working families. As always, how you vote is
your decision.

Washington County Public Transit Tax: FORFor more information on this ballot initiative, see http://www.transit.org/We also recommend signing the petition to place the THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND LOBBYING ACT OF 2012 on the November ballot. For information on this ballot initiative, see http://www.regnatpopulus2012.com/

One endorsement for the November election: Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan

*Note: Judge Jo Hart was endorsed by the Arkansas AFL-CIO. She did not return the Judicial Candidate Questionnaire sent to her by the NWA Labor Council.

Thanks to everyone who contacted Senators Pryor and Boozman on today's vote. The Republican effort to undermine fair union elections was defeated today, 45-54. Senator Pryor voted to keep the NLRB’s rule to help
ensure that workers who want to vote to form their own union have a fair
opportunity to do so. Senator Boozman, as always, voted with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to weaken worker rights. Thanks again for your work!_____________________________________________________________________

Corporate-bought politicians are taking aim at workers again. And this time, they’ve got fair elections for workers in the crosshairs.

In December, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—the federal
agency that protects workers’ rights—issued a rule that modernizes the
NLRB election process and helps ensure workers have a fair way to form a
union without unfair delays and manipulation of the process by
employers.

Now, anti-worker politicians in Congress are trying to ram through a resolution to undo this modest step forward for the 99%.

By limiting delays and frivolous litigation, the NLRB’s rule helps
ensure that workers who want to vote to form their own union have a fair
opportunity to do so.

From the day a worker is hired,
companies have every opportunity to communicate with employees about the
pros and cons of having a union. But extremists have pushed a
congressional resolution that would overturn the NLRB’s new election
procedures: They’re trying to pay back their corporate donors by
slashing workers’ rights on the job once again.

The stakes are too high for working families to stay on the sidelines. If corporate-backed politicians pass this week’s attack on fair elections, they’ll:

Resurrect the barriers workers face when they want a simple up-or-down vote on forming a union, giving an unfair advantage to law-breaking CEOs.

Encourage costly delays and litigation, paving the way for employers who want to retaliate against workers.

Make it even harder for employees to form a union and negotiate for fair pay and benefits, weakening the middle class and our chances at a brighter economic future.

From statehouses across the country to Congress, the forces of the 1% are openly and brazenly waging war on workers.
This attack on the NLRB is just the latest in this relentless series of
nationally coordinated assaults on workers and collective bargaining
rights. Rather than working together to create jobs, restore tax
fairness and jumpstart our economy, extreme legislators are pushing
divisive policies that put workers' rights on the chopping block.

Corporate politicians won’t let up until even the most modest workplace protections have been eliminated. But you can help stop this attack in its tracks.

Four decades ago, Congress passed the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every
worker the right to a safe job. Unions and our allies have
fought hard to make that promise a reality—winning
protections that have made jobs safer, saved hundreds
of thousand of lives and prevented millions of workplace
injuries and illnesses.

But our work is not done. Many job hazards are
unregulated and uncontrolled. Some employers, like
Massey Energy and BP, cut corners and violate the law,
putting workers in serious danger and costing lives.
Each year thousands of workers are killed and millions
more injured or diseased because of their jobs.

The Obama administration has moved forward to
strengthen protections with tougher enforcement on
serious violators and proposed new safeguards for
workplace hazards. But business groups and the
Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives
are attacking these stronger measures, falsely claiming
they kill jobs. They are pushing legislation to make it
difficult, if not impossible, to issue needed safeguards
to protect workers and the public.

We cannot and will not let them turn back the clock and
destroy the progress we have made to make jobs safer
and save lives. Safety laws and regulations don’t kill
jobs—but unsafe jobs do kill workers.

On April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers
Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered
and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe
workplaces. This year we will fight to create good jobs
in this country that are safe and healthy. We will fight
for the freedom of workers to form unions and, through
their unions, to speak out and bargain for respect and a
better future. We will demand that the country fulfill the
promise of safe jobs for all.

Workers Memorial Day • April 28, 2012

Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in
working conditions. The Obama administration has moved forward to strengthen worker protections.
But business groups and the new Republican
majority in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to
block stronger measures and roll back
existing protections. It is time to organize, take action and fight
for safe jobs for workers, including:

Ensuring workers’ right to have a voice on the job, and to freely choose to join a union without
employer interference or intimidation.

What You Can Do on Workers Memorial Day

Organize a rally to demand creation of good jobs and safe jobs in your community.

Hold a candlelight vigil, memorial service or moment of silence to remember those who have died on
the job and to highlight job safety problems in your community and at your workplace.

Create a memorial at workplaces or in communities where workers have been killed on the job.

Distribute workplace fliers and organize a call-in to congressional representatives during lunch times
or break times. Tell your members of Congress to oppose efforts to roll back protections and to
support legislation to create good jobs and safe jobs.

Hold a public meeting with members of Congress in their home districts. Bring injured workers and
family members who can talk firsthand
about the need for strong safety and health protections and
the freedom to join a union. Invite
local religious leaders and other allies to participate in the meeting.
For additionalthat the country fulfill the
promise of safe jobs for all.

Who We Are

The Northwest Arkansas Labor Council, chartered in 1958, is an expression of the hopes and aspirations of the working people of Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties. It is one of nine central labor councils (CLCs) in Arkansas, bringing together all local unions from the public sector and many industries in our region to determine positions and take action on local and statewide issues.

We seek the fulfillment of these hopes and aspirations through democratic processes and consistent with our institutions and traditions. At the collective bargaining table, in job training and education programs, in service to the community, in the exercise of the rights and responsibilities, we seek to serve the interests of working people and their families.

We pledge ourselves to a more effective organization of working men and women; to the securing for them the full recognition and enjoyment of the rights to which they are justly entitled; to the achievement of ever higher standards of living and working conditions; to the attainment of security for all the people; to the enjoyment of the leisure which their skills make possible; and to the strengthening and extension of our way of life and fundamental freedoms.

We shall strive always to win full respect for the dignity of the human individuals whom our unions serve.